Zimbabwe researchers urged to strengthen local HIV research

Zimbabwean researchers and healthcare professionals have been urged to strengthen local research and collaboration to address emerging health challenges affecting people living with HIV as they grow older.

Newlands Clinic research and training director Dr Cleopas Chimbetete said advances in HIV treatment had created new priorities for healthcare providers, including HIV drug resistance, non-communicable diseases and cervical cancer.

He was speaking at the clinic's fourth annual Research Day, which brought together healthcare providers, researchers, academics and policymakers to share findings and discuss developments in HIV care.

Chimbetete said Zimbabwe had generated substantial research on HIV, but more needed to be done to share findings, strengthen local research capacity and ensure scientific evidence informed patient care.

"As the treatment programme progresses, as people grow older with HIV, there are new emerging issues around HIV care that we must be awake to," he said.

He identified drug resistance, non-communicable diseases and cervical cancer as key areas requiring continued investigation and appropriate healthcare interventions. Less common conditions, including cervical schistosomiasis, also warrant greater attention from researchers and medical professionals.

Chimbetete said the annual gathering provided a platform for exchanging knowledge, examining emerging evidence and identifying ways to improve the management of HIV and related conditions.

He also emphasised the importance of making better use of data collected through routine healthcare services, saying it could provide valuable insights into patient outcomes and emerging health trends.

Strengthening mentorship and research skills was equally important in enabling Zimbabwean scientists to expand their contribution to global medical knowledge.

"Looking into the future, how can we help each other, capacitate each other as Zimbabweans do more in research, do more with the data that we are producing in our routine work and how can we mentor each other to become better researchers," he said.

He added that increasing the visibility of locally generated evidence would help the international community recognise the quality and significance of research being conducted in Zimbabwe.

The call comes as effective HIV treatment enables more people to live longer with the virus, creating a greater need for comprehensive, long-term healthcare that addresses both HIV-related complications and other conditions associated with ageing.

Researchers and healthcare providers are being encouraged to build on progress in HIV treatment by strengthening collaboration, sharing findings and translating locally generated evidence into improved patient care.